OVP Ashanti Hamilton responds to 8 teens shot in less than a month

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MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Gun violence persists in Milwaukee; the victims keep getting younger. CBS 58 has reported eight shootings, two fatal, in less than a month. The victims ranging in age between 12 to 17 years old.

Ashanti Hamilton of the Office of Violence Prevention spoke with CBS 58 News about these concerning trends.

"Will it all disappear overnight? That's not a realistic expectation to have on anybody. Not the police and definitely not of this officer of four people right now," said Hamilton.

Hamilton has held the title of leader for the Office of Violence Prevention for about six months. He believes teaching teens different problem-solving skills to avoid violence is key to decrease the bloodshed.

He said his office has implemented several groups within hotspot communities to make connections with youth to teach and preach peace. When asked how he's measured and how his officer has measured the success of those efforts, there was no solid answer.

"It's a more complicated conversation. And there's often times multiple variables that are having impact both in the spikes and in the reduction of criminal activity," said Hamilton.

From Feb. 19 to Marceight teens between the ages of 12 to 17 years old were shot -- two were fatal.

Both Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Hamilton attributed the spike in teen gun violence victims to the access of guns.

"There are so many guns out there and so easily accessible," said Mayor Johnson.

The mayor said his office and MPD have plans in the works to combat that accessibility.

Meanwhile Hamilton said an immediate solution to the carnage is responsible gun ownership.

"We're actually reaching out to partners so that there's easy access to what responsible gun ownership looks like and to have access to that training in their community," said Hamilton.

Hamilton mentioned he is currently in the process of creating anti-violence proposals with MPS, which he hopes to implement before the end of the school year.

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